Mukesh opened up about the turning point in his life after the super hit movie Katha Pariyala, which was released in 2007. The movie featured Mammootty in a cameo role and Sreenivasan and Meena played the lead roles. The film told the story of the friendship between barber Balan and superstar Ashok Raj and was a heartwarming movie for the audience. Mukesh and Srinivasan were the producers. Mukesh says that Mammootty acted in the film without getting paid. Mukesh is opening up on his own YouTube channel about the emotional experiences he had when he went to Mammootty’s house to tell the story of the film.
“Srinivasan tells me the story of the film Katha Paryathla during a wedding celebration in Ernakulam. He stopped me and said, “Didn’t you tell me about making a film before?” Let’s build it together now. Looks like the movie might be successful. You have to look after everything, our money should not go too far”. I also said that I am coming down now. Srinivasan asked that you don’t want to hear the story. I said, “I don’t want to hear your story.”
“You just listen to the story and see your reaction to go ahead with this story, I need your evaluation” – Srinivasan said. So from the edge of that hotel, he told the story of the film ‘Kathaparamanda’. I cried like a little child after hearing the story. Pulli grabbed me and said the climax dialogue itself from there. After wiping my eyes, I said, “Whether there is loss or gain, we as friends should take this story of friendship”. Srinivasan held my hand tightly. He said there was a small problem. “Its mechanism has already been decided. My brother-in-law M. Mohan is doing this, if he is replaced, there will be family problems.” I said, “If I change him, I will cause trouble.” It is directed by Mohanan. Srini is acting”. And so the movie ends there.
The film has a cameo appearance. Mammooka should do the cameo role. We went to Mammooka’s house to tell the story. Mammooka and his wife are there. Being us, Mammooka’s wife stayed there. Mammooka had told Sulfat that we are producing this film.
I said, “Sreeni, tell that story there according to tradition.” Mammooka said “Don’t tell that story according to convention”. I asked what it was. He said “I believe in Srini’s story and have told the story on many occasions, don’t waste your time telling stories. I don’t have time for that, just say I want to come”. Balan is the hero in this, yours is not a full-length role. Only five days are needed for a superstar’s role. What should we pay for that? What rights should we give, how much advance should we give.”
I looked and his wife was standing listening to it, more tense than us. Then Mammooka stood up and put both of our hands on the shoulders and said, “I am acting in this film for free”. I said, “Mammooka, this is not the time to joke.” It’s a life and death battle, we have to decide now whether we will be producers”. He said, “Hey, how many years have we been together since I asked for money from you?” I’ll give you my five days for free, just tell me the date”. To our surprise, Mammooka’s wife came from behind and hugged Mammooka. They were tense. They were under the tension of not being able to face the difficult situation that would arise if they told us that they could not afford the high rate.
She said “Ichaka good”. It was a bigger family moment than the movie when the story was told. All of us were teary eyed. We shook hands and ate and left the place. After getting tired, we went into the initial activities of the story telling.
And so the day came to shoot the climax. Srinivasan has a habit of getting up that morning and writing the scene, even though he has the story and stuff. So he wrote the climax scene with Mammootty’s dialogue at school and gave it to me to read. I was shocked when I read the scene. Actually this scene is enough. But this was not the scene where Srini kept me together during that wedding. I told Srini too. Shrini took me to the room saying have you come here? Srini asked me what you heard that day. I told the story of helping Ashok Kumar with the money that Balan Kadukan sold. There was no sharp expression in the scene just written. Srini doubted that it would not turn out to be a little pinky.
This is what the Malayalis want. As a cinephile, my eyes were full. Rewrite it in your own way. So Srini went to the room and rewrote the entire scene. I cried right there after reading the new scene. Mammooka comes on set and the camera is fixed. Says the dialogue. Halfway through the second dialogue, Mammooka bows her head and cries. Finally, Mammooka looked at the camera and said cut. The decision we took with the cameraman was that no matter how many takes this scene takes, there is no problem. The native audiences there are those who have come without knowing any of the stories behind this scene. All of them are crying after hearing this dialogue of Mammooka. I told Srini that this movie is a super hit in this single scene.
The scene, which should have been completed in two to three hours at Mammooka’s range, was shot in the evening. Even after finishing the dialogue, he was still whining. That is the power of friendship. That’s why this film was remade in all languages,” said Mukesh.